Gilets jaunes call for new protest amid soaring fuel prices

Online platforms are spreading a renewed invitation for the Gilets jaunes to stage a protest, emphasizing that soaring fuel prices are choking both consumers and companies across France. The original 2018 uprising was sparked by a concrete economic pressure and resulted in partial monetary measures, while broader demands were absorbed by a state-led "grand débat" under President Emmanuel Macron early in his first term.

Today, Macron is barred from seeking another term and his central coalition is losing momentum, raising questions about the potential for a genuine resurgence of the movement. Observers argue that the protest must remain outside traditional parties and unions, rejecting any co-optation by the political system. To retain cohesion, participants should collectively refuse to back any presidential hopeful and keep pressure on all parties. Historical parallels, such as the short-lived success of Pierre Poujade's parliamentary entry in the 1950s, illustrate the risk of diluting the movement by entering formal politics.